President Buhari selects team to negotiate with ASUU

- A team of 14 members have been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari

- The team is to negotiate 2009 agreement with unions in federal universities, federal polytechnics and federal colleges of education

- The president has also approved the reconstitution of the governing councils of university of Port Harcourt and Obafemi Awolowo University and Ile Ife

In order to ensure sustainable peace and industrial harmony in the nation’s tertiary institutions, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a 14-member Federal Government team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement with unions in federal tertiary institutions in the country. 

President Buhari selects team to negotiate with ASUU

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in a statement issued by the ministry in Abuja on Friday, said the renegotiation team would dialogue with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non Academic Staff Union of Associated & Allied Institutions (NASU).

According to The Nation, the new team is headed by Dr. Wale Babalakin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Babalakin, who was adjudged the best pro-chancellor at the time of the negotiations in 2009, headed the agreement implementation committee then.

The government team comprises the following:

Wale Babalakin, SAN; (Chairman)

M.M. Jibril, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Lafia

Nimi Briggs, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja

Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke

Lawrence Ngbale, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi

Prince Alex Mbata, Pro-Chancellor, Imo State University, Owerri

Olufemi Bamiro, Pro-Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun

Representatives, Federal Ministry of Education

Representative, Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment

Representative, Federal Ministry of Finance

Representative, Federal Ministry of Justice

Representative, Federal Ministry of Budget & National Planning

Representative of the National Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission (NSIWC)

Representative of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)

Meanwhile, Buhari has also approved the reconstitution of the governing councils of university of Port Harcourt and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, which were dissolved following the recent crises that engulfed the two institutions.

The new governing councils would serve for a term of four years, in the first instance, effective from December 28, 2016.

In the same vein, Buhari has appealed to the leadership of ASUU, to understand that the nation is in recession, hence the inability of his government to meet their demands, Leadership reports.

The president made the appeal in a message through Professor Anthony Anwuka, the minister of state for education, during the convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri.

He said: “As partners in progress, I plead for understanding and cooperation as the government is committed to addressing the various issues being canvassed by the Union, as we strive to right the wrongs of the past.”

The president noted that he is aware of the anxiety and uncertainties that agitate the minds of the graduands, on what the future holds for them after graduation.